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Getting into the zone : concentration
I have thought about what I need to progress. My biggest challenge is concentration. If there is one thing I have noticed in musicians, it’s concentration. I am easily distracted by thoughts, noises, someone talking almost anything and once I’m distracted my playing goes haywire or I just stop playing.
Do you have any tips on how to improve concentration or how to get into the zone and stay there ?
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3 Replies
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In my humble opinion, based on about 22 months experience (18 of those in TAC), I believe that more concentration is required in the beginning phases of learning but the goal is to move what has been learned to your subconscious.
When you drive your car and you see a child running out onto the road, do you concentrate while applying the brakes? No, this has become a reflex and it is automatic. When you were learning to drive you had to think about where the brake pedal was but that was a long time ago. That’s a simple movement and what you do with your fingers are far more complex, but these movements also become automatic, part of your “muscle memory”.
Concentration might be required to remember the chords and which strumming or pick pattern you are switching to, when the chorus begins and the bridge etc. But many of these can also become more automatic as you do them more and more. I like to practice in front of the TV, now my brain is split between focusing on the plot of the show and playing guitar. I’m trying to fast track the move to my subconscious mind by putting the show I’m watching front and center while I try to play without thinking.
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I do what @petelanger does but…I turn the volume down to a level of what I estimate is backround connversation. I move between the two focus points. I get myself going in the music and then allow the backround to infiltrate and then pull my focus back to the music. I have been able to split my attention between the two, simultainiously….it reminded me of when I first balanced on a 2 wheel bicycle, I couldn’t do it and then suddendly after a good deal of trying I could.
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@jumpinjeff has been here a long, long time and is full of guitar-wisdom. I would listen to him!
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